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J.-O. RAMSDEN. Apparatus for Hardening and Tempering Wire.

No. 231,848. I Patented Aug. 31, 1880.

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' WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

W 0 (7% 6% 68mm N, PETDIS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER WASHINGTON. D 04 -3, anend View of the againstthe partition N,

' UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE'Q JOHN G. RAMSDEN, OF REDGATE, GREATBRITAIN.

APPARATUS FOR HARDENING AND TEMPERING WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters: Patent No. 231,848, dated August31, 1880.

Application filed January 19, 1880.

. To all whom it may concern:

ening and tempering of steel wire; and this object I attain in themanner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig. hardening furnace;Fig. 4., a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 5 a transversesection of the tempering-bath.

A is a tubular retort or chamber, which is mounted upon supports a a,and through which the wire is passed after leaving the reel or reels G.This retort, which maybe circular in section or oval, as shown in Fig.4, is provided with a horizontal partition, N, in the center the lengthof the chamber, there being openings on each side of the partition, asshown. Along one side of the retort, below the partition N, are a numberof openings, y, opposite each of which are two nozzles, O and P, eachprovided with a cock, Fig. 4.

The pipes carrying the lower nozzles, O, are in communication with avessel or cistern containing a quantity of volatile hydrocarbon, whilethe pipes carrying the nozzles P communicate with a boiler orsteam-generator, so that when the two cocks are opened the force of thesteam passing over the lower nozzle exhausts the air contained in thelower pipe and causes the volatile hydrocarbon to rise therein and beblown into the chamber R, in the finest spray, and when lighted theflame passes along the under side of the partition and up through theopenings 011 each side,-into the chamber above the partition, throughwhich the wire passes, and is heated thereby.

The wires to be heated pass through suita- Patentcd in England April 2,1879.

ble openings in the ends of the retort and through adjoining guides F F,such wires being introduced into the retort in the first place through alongitudinal slot, L, in the top thereof. This opening is closed by 'alid, Li which is carriedby arms 1, secured to the shaft K, the latterbeing adapted to suitable bearings in the frame.

The vertical slots in the ends of the retorts are closed by gates E,which are pivoted to arms e, also secured to the shaft K. The upper endsof these gates are provided with slots 0, into which fit pins f, on theupper ends of the guides F F, so that when the shaft K is turned so asto raise the lid L the gates E will at the same time be thrown back tothe position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The products of combustionfrom the retort pass out through a chimney, no, at one end, above thepartition, and on the opposite side of the retort from the nozzles O P.

The wire, as it is drawn off the reel or reels G, is heated as it passesin the direction of the arrow through the retort, sufficient space beingleft below the gates E E for the passage of the wire.

When the wire thus heated leaves the retort it passes over an inclinedtrough, S, down which flows a stream of oil in the opposite direction.This stream of oil is supplied continuously from the pipe T, whichcommunicates with an elevated reservoir. The oil, after leavingtheinclined trough S, flows over the tray beneath and thence into thetrough T, whence it is pumped back again into the elevated reservoir.

The upper end of the trough S is provided with a pivoted gate, 8,beneath which the wire thus hardened thence passes into a pan, U,containing a bath of linseed-oil, mercury, or lead, heated by means of afire, U, to the temperature required to give the wire the requisitedegree of temper. The wire is depressed into this bath of oil by pendentarms (I, secured to the pivoted cover D of the tempering-box. Theproducts of combustion from the fire pass out throughthe chimney w. Thewire is then drawn onto the ordinary reels G, which are arranged in anydesired position, and have a positive motion imparted to them by anysuitable means.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for hardening wire, thecombination of a wire-heating retort provided with a central partitionhaving openings on opposite sides thereof with nozzles or burners forintroducing combustible material into the retort below the partition,substantially as set forth.

2. A wire-heating retort provided with a longitudinal slot, throughwhich the wire to be treated may be introduced into the retort,substantially as described.

3. The wire-heating retort provided with a longitudinal slot andremovable lid, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the retort having a longitudinal slot with a shaftcarrying a lid adapted to said slot and gates adapted to the slottedends of the retort, all substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the tempering-pan with the pivoted cover carryingthe pendent arms, as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination of the tempering-box containing the bath-pan with thefire-place 25 immediately below the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

JOHN WAUGH, JOHN GILL.

